Aeroplane.



R. R. SMITH.

AEROPLANE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1914.

. A TTOH/VEY R. R. SMITH.

AERUPLANB.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1914.

Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

BY. /7 var /g ATTORNEY UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

' RUSSELL n. SMITH, or nonno,- canironma.

AEEOPLANE.

To all 'whom z' may concern: l

Be it 'known that I, B UssELL R. SMrTH, a citizen of Canada, residing at- Rodeo, in the county of 4Contra Costa and State of California, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Aeroplanes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the class of aero planes, and particularly to that type Jin which the stabilizing planes or ailerons are automatically operated by a pendulously suspended car orbody.

. The object of my invention is to provide.

- scale. Fig. 4 is a detail view, taken on line tended to perform, namely, that of aero- .fr-:r yof Fig. 1, of the means for locking the main planes and the car' against relative movement.v

1 are the main planes. These converge upwardly and meet at an angle the degree of which is, in general, determined by the double function which said planes are 'inplanes, and that of a parachute. Such angle is, therefore, selected as will give to one function as much power'and effect as may be consistent with the exercise of the other function, and this selection is subject to such latitude as experience may suggest.

2 are. the stabilizing planes or ailerons.

These also have a double function, namely, that of equilibration, and that of a ypara-l chute; and because of these functions the superficial vdimensions of said ailerons are necessarily' relatively large, and approach.

quite nearly those' of the main planes, as seen in Fig. 3. The ailerons lie along the rear edges of the main planes 1 and when at rest normally conform to and continue the planes thereof. They are connected with the main planes by a hinge joint which will permit them to be drawn down to an angle with the main planes and to return therefrom. I have, for illustration, shown this Specification of Letters Patent.

.Patented Mar. 30, 1915.

joint as made by hinges 3 and controlling Springs 4.

5 is the body or car of the machine. This is pivotally-suspended from the main planes, 1n accordance with that type of automati- 60 cally balancing aeroplanes in which a pendulous action 1s employed. The `'connection is formed by a frame 6 lrising rigidly from the bodyor car, and pivoted above at 7, in the fore and aft line of the an'gle or apex of 65 the lmain planes. The connections between the pendulous car and the ailerons, by'which l the latter are operated, to automatically perform' their stabilizing or balancing funcy tain, consist ofthe two lines 8. One of these lines is at one end made fast to one side of lthe car at 8' and thence by means of a guidepulley9 is directed to a fastening at 10 to the aileron on the opposite side of the ma- `chine. .The other line is correspondingly directed. These lines, as stated, effect the ordinary operation of the ailerons to balance the machine in flight. What may be termed the extraordinary or emergency operation of the ailerons to make them, in congunction with the main planes, serve as a parachute,

1s effected by means of connections which are set in action by the aviator to meet the emergency, and by which the aileronsare drawn down f ar enough, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figs. 1 v'and 2, to constitute with the main planes a sufficiently effective' parachute to insure safety. These connections may be of any suitable character,

thoughl for the sake of illustration, I have here shown them as comprising lines 11, which are secured at one end vto the ailerons, and at the other end arewound upon a drum 12 to bedriven by suitable power, say, for

example, by a motor 13, which is under the 4 I' control of the aviator.

In order to lock the pendulous car and the main planes together to preserve their normal position and prevent accident to the planes in alighting, I have a locking lever 14, under the control of the operator, said lever being adapted to be thrown into engagement with a keeper notch l5 on a cross bar 16 rigidly connecting the main lanes.

17 indicates the motor of the mac ine and 105 18 is the propeller. 19 is the tail-vane and 20 is the rudder. 21 are the wheels, 22 are guard runners, and 23 is a rear support.

In normal flight, the operation of the ma' Y chine is that which is customary. In case of accident, by which this normal flight is interrupted, the aviator draws down the ailerons, thereby converting the planes 1 an ailerons 2 into a parachute.

I claim zl. In an aeroplane, the combination of upwardly converging main planes; stabilizing planes hingedly connected with the rear edges of the main planes, and adapted to be drawn down to an angle with the main planes, said stabilizing planes being fashioned and disposed relatively to the main planes to form a parachute therewith when drawn down' in unison; a` car pendulously suspended from the apex `of the main planes; lines connecting the stabilizing planes with opposite sides of the car for automatically operating said planes as aile-l rons; and means under the control of theoperator for simultaneously drawing'down the stabilizing planes tov form a parachute with the main planes.

2. In an aeroplane, the combination of upwardly converging main planes; stabilize ing planes hingedly connected with the rear 'edges ofl the main planes, and adapted to be drawn down to an angle'with the main "planes, said stabilizing planes being, fashionedl and disposed relative to the main. ,lanes to form a parachute therewith when `awn down in unison; a carfpendulously suspended from the apex -o the main planes; lines connectingv the stabilizing planes with opposite sides of the. car for automatically operating said planes as ailerons; and means under the control of the operator for simultaneously drawing down' the stabilizing planes to form a .parachute with the main planes, comprising a driven drum and lines wound thereon 4and connected with the stabilizing planes. l

3. Inl an aeroplane, the combination of upwardly converging-main planes; stabilizing. planes hingedly connected with, the. lrear l. edges ofthe main planes, and adaptedlto be' drawn down to v an angle with the main planes, sald stabilizing planes being fashioned and disposed relative to the main planes to form a parachute therewith when drawn down in unison; a car pendulously suspended from the apex of the main planes; lines connecting the stabilizing planes with opposite sides of the car for automatically operating said planes as ailerons; means under the control of the oper-` ator for simultaneously drawing down the stabilizing planes to form a parachute with the main planes, and means for locking the car and the main planes against relative movement. v

4'. In an aeroplane, the combination of upwardly converging main planes; stabilizing planes hingedly connected with the rear edges of the main planes, and adapted to be drawn down to an angle with the main planes, said stabilizing planes being fashioned and disposed relatively to the main planes to form a parachute therewith when drawn down in unison; a car pendulously su's pendedl from' the apex of the main planes; lines connecting the stabilizing planes with opposite sides of the car for automatically operating said planes as ailerons; means under the control of the operator forv simultaneously drawing down the stabilizing planes to form a parachute with the main planes, and means for locking the car and the main planes against relative movement, comprising a lever mounted on the carand a cross bar carried by the main planes and having a keeper notch with which the lever engages.

InA testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. RUSSELL R. SMITH;

Witnesses; f WM.v` F, Boo'rH,

t l D. B. RIGHRDS. 

